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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Review: Valkyrie Rising (#1)

Summary (from Goodreads): Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them. Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.Review: A solid debut book in a series, Valkyrie Rising takes readers to the shores of Norway where mystery, fantasy, and adventure is abound and where Elsa (the main character) finds herself. For the first half of the book I felt the characters were a tad one dimensional, but thankfully Paulson just sets readers up for a fantastic story-line. While there is a love interest, Valkyrie Rising is not saturated by it. It is only one of the ingredients (flavorings?) that aid this book to what it is: a fantastic adventure for anyone curious about what it takes to really know- and own - who you are. Even when Norse Gods are want to meddle in human affairs.